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    Thinkvantage Power Manager

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by faisalsiddiqui, Mar 27, 2008.

  1. faisalsiddiqui

    faisalsiddiqui Notebook Guru

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    I just recently did a clean install of XP on my R61.

    Now that i have installed XP, my computer is quite snappy and i don't want to mar the speeds by installing unnecessary software. However, i read in one of the posts (i don't really remember which one and i have been trying to find it) that the Thinkvantage Power Manager is a very useful application and must be installed at all times.

    Can someone please advise me, if i should install this application and if i install it what will be the appropriate settings to keep?

    Thanks & regards
     
  2. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    Yes, you should install the program. The settings are user preference, it all depends on how you plan on using your system.
     
  3. faisalsiddiqui

    faisalsiddiqui Notebook Guru

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    I most of the times keep my PC connected to the power source and only occasionally use it on battery power. So keeping this in mind, can you please advise me on the best profile for me.

    Thanks
     
  4. jooooeee

    jooooeee Stealth in disguise

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    I use windows to manage my power it is one less peice of Lenovo software to bog down my computer after a clean install of Vista Ultimate 64bit.
     
  5. zoogle

    zoogle Notebook Consultant

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    Windows power gives you all the stuff that power manager does EXCEPT for the battery management options (like setting charge level thresholds) and the global power settings, which is where it lets you make overall power settings that will apply to every power profile you make/choose.

    Personally, I think it's worth the system resource use because it allows me to manage battery charge levels which leads to longer battery lifespan (i.e 4 years of good charge vs. 3 years of good charge).
     
  6. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    That's basically how I use my computer. These are my settings:

     
  7. faisalsiddiqui

    faisalsiddiqui Notebook Guru

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    Thanks a lot Arkit3kt for your guidance.
    If the laptop is switched off and plugged in, will the battery be charged?

    P.S. You have changed your graphic...
     
  8. objectref

    objectref Notebook Consultant

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    How do you do this, by changing the 40% threshold and set it to 100 ? I tried to make this way (mine is 95%), set it to 100% but it didn't charge to this percentage.
     
  9. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    The thresholds still hold even when your computer is off.

    My signature? Yes, I changed it a bit. :p

    Yes, I switch to the first option in Battery Maintenance labeled 'Full Charge" or something which is a 96/100 threshold. That means your battery will only charge to 100% when it is below 96%. Anywhere in between 96% and 100%, the battery charge will stand still.
     
  10. objectref

    objectref Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks, i was trying to achieve this but battery was at 97% so id didn't charge, exactly as you said.
    I set the processor to the "lowest" wehn on battery, just like you do. I had this to "Adaptive", maybe more responsive but more battery-hungry too!
    I can easily get 3 1/2 hours of battery now, with wifi on.
     
  11. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    It's something all ThinkPad owners should know. It's a shame when they're using their laptop and see that it's stuck between 96% and 100% and they never know why and think it's a problem. It's not a defect, it's a feature. ;)
     
  12. objectref

    objectref Notebook Consultant

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    You are absolutely correct. I didn't know that it was supposed to work that way. I had 2 HP laptops before and they always charge up to 100%, so for a moment i was thinking about a bug in Power Manager.

    Have you measure the difference in battery between "lowest" and "adaptive" in processor ?
     
  13. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    Unfortunately, no I have not. I don't do anything besides surf the internet and IM while I'm on battery. But since it's adaptive, I doubt battery life would differ much if I do the same things with adaptive mode selected insted.
     
  14. objectref

    objectref Notebook Consultant

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    I see. In my case, i do a lot of compiles (visual studio) and using sql server so i can see difference on battery. I can also see a difference in performance too but when on battery it is better to do more a little slower that much less a little faster.
     
  15. Arki

    Arki Super Moderator

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    Yeah. It's best to keep in mind that the setting 'Lowest' is a set CPU power level which would give you a set battery life output no matter what you're doing.

    'Adaptive' would have to adjust to your activities so the battery life would vary. But if you keep your activities to a bare minimum, the battery life between 'Lowest' and 'Adaptive' would be similar.
     
  16. zoogle

    zoogle Notebook Consultant

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    Is there a difference between Adaptive and Highest? Setting it on highest still shows speedstep working on RMClock... Weird...
     
  17. objectref

    objectref Notebook Consultant

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    I think that "highest" means that it always will work on fill throttle :) and "adaptive" that it will work lower and only if it needs to then it will approach to full throttle (but on exactly).
     
  18. stupid_nut

    stupid_nut Notebook Consultant

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    How are peoples batteries holding up? I've had my laptop for 3 weeks now. The other day power manager popped up a message saying my battery is only at 99% now. Looking at it, it says designed capacity 56.16 Wh, full charge capacity 55.94 Wh. How normal is this?

    My 3 year old Dell has 45% wear, so if this is 99% wear already, dunno how it will be later on.
     
  19. truelies

    truelies Notebook Consultant

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    Power manager has problems under Vista 64bit:

    1. Sometimes it will cause explore.exe can't start when windows start.
    2. If no window at max, the color of the battery icon will be very dim

    Hope Lenovo can publish a new edition for vista 64 bit.
     
  20. keh

    keh Notebook Consultant

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    Hmmm, I'm running 64 bit, and I haven't noticed any issues with explore.exe. I have the notify icon turned off - just using the Vista battery indicator, so I don't know about that second issue you are having.